Eleanor Coppola's Final Documentary 'Making Marie Antoinette' Set for Release

Eleanor Coppola's last film, 'Making Marie Antoinette,' offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sofia Coppola's 2006 period drama. The documentary draws from over 80 hours of footage Eleanor shot on set in 2005. During the pandemic, Eleanor and Sofia revisited the recordings and began editing; after Eleanor's death in 2024 at 87, Sofia completed the project. The film captures the 57-day shoot, from Sofia's quiet early attempts to rally the crew to the pressured final days. It highlights Sofia's growth as a filmmaker, including a moment where she insists on shooting a scene from Marie's perspective despite male colleagues' objections. The documentary also showcases the close collaboration between Sofia and Kirsten Dunst, who was 22 during filming. Diane Lane narrates from Eleanor's journals, adding personal reflections. While light on gossip, the film is a love letter to female filmmaking and will appeal to fans of the original. 'Making Marie Antoinette' opens in theaters on October 23 and streams on Mubi from November 6.